Thursday 15 December 2011

Seaton - Bridport 152

To continue with the Lyme Regis theme, today's post returns to the summer of 2006. In 2006, Stagecoach Devon ran a competitive service against First's X53 from Seaton to West Bay, via Lyme Regis, Charmouth and Bridport, predominantly using Mercedes-Benz Vario minibuses.

Stagecoach Devon 42102 - R102NTA - Lyme Regis - 27th July 2006

The 152 was an extension to Stagecoach Devon's hourly 52A to Seaton, connecting at Seaton to form a link into Dorset. I believe the service was a commercial venture, using one bus. For-seeing that this service may be a one off, I managed to photograph a working in the summer of 2006 and I've also saved the timetable:

For a full size copy, please email me. The 152 seemed to take good loads during the summer, but without a lot of publicity and against the X53 it was unlikely to take off. However, it was a lovely little venture from an enthusiast point of view - it brought Stagecoach Devon into Dorset, and allowed me to photograph my first ever SCD bus.

4 comments:

  1. The bus shown (R102 NTA) is now with ACL travel in Weston-Super-Mare and has been fitted with an LED screen.

    Looking very smart.....

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/33672038@N05/5018811294/

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/33672038@N05/5018197931/

    And seen here operating the Matford Park & Ride in the old Stagecoach livery, with this service now operated by very high quality 09 reg Enviro400 deckers

    http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=R102+NTA&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1333&bih=665&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=8MPJoDtoRLZHvM:&imgrefurl=http://www.simplybusphotos.com/stagecoachmercedesbenzo814alexanderalx100.html&docid=_bjZJr_4U9TJsM&imgurl=http://www.simplybusphotos.com/images/42102%252520(R102%252520NTA)%252520in%252520Exeter.jpg&w=800&h=566&ei=ZmDuTuKIDs_48QOb6JWRCg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=169&vpy=290&dur=5&hovh=189&hovw=267&tx=117&ty=121&sig=116154064792213830866&page=1&tbnh=123&tbnw=164&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

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  2. 2 minor corrections.

    ACL Travel went bust some time ago - 2010 i think.
    The Matford P&R service is very definately saloon worked - the low railway bridge en route makes sure of that. The deckers are on the Honiton Road service.

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